Two for One: Double Disney Birthdays! *Meg nonTR upd 9/23* // *Help out Katie! 10/22*

[DisKate]

So two good things happened yesterday....I paid off our May trip, so we have to go now! And I got my camera back from Ann, which means I finally have the pics from our March trip and I can update!

 

[Megablocks]

Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes! I had such a good day. My birthday last year consisted of going to get lunch with Charles and doing a presentation for my curriculum class. This birthday was much, much better!

I'm really sorry for not updating in so long -- I got SO sidetracked. And I thought I'd have a hard time dragging this out. Charles's older sister (he has two, one older than him and one younger), is getting married in August and I'm a bridesmaid. We had to go dress shopping this past Saturday, and that plus the late lunch/early dinner ended up taking up most of the afternoon. Yesterday, Charles and I tried getting tickets to tonight's Bruins playoff game because we're both huge hockey fans and they just so happen to be playing Katie's team. I'm even more interested in the Bruins being in the playoffs when they're playing one of my best friend's teams! That didn't work out because we didn't want to spend $160 each to sit in a suite, but it was made up for when I ordered tickets to go see the musical Wicked in October!!! I'm going with Charles, Kailyn, and our friend Courtney. I traveled to NYC to see it three years ago and I've been dying to see it again ever since -- I'm so excited for that!

Day 3, part 1 -- Sunday, February 14

Today was the day of our KTTK tour. I was super excited about it because I had heard a lot of good things about it. Katie and Patrick did it on their October trip and said it was awesome. We checked in and picked up our nametags, lanyards, and little radios. The tour guide told my dad, and my dad only, not to play with the buttons, because she "knew guys." Of course my mom, Kailyn, and I found it hysterical because my dad IS the guy who purposely touches things he shouldn't, and he IS the one who would need such a warning. We picked out our lunch from Columbia Harbor House from a little menu they had. I got a diet Coke, the tuna sandwich, and chips.

Kailyn modeled the stuff for me. You can just make out the lanyard with the card, and you can see the wire from the little radio that almost blends in with her hair.

I think one of our first stops was in some little shop somewhere kind of "off" Main Street that I had never been in before. I was a little distracted because I kept on looking around at everything and just dying to poke around.

Our first stop was the Jungle Cruise, which we got to ride without the spiel. It was really, really interesting to hear about it and find some hidden Mickeys and a Minnie. Here's a hint: when you're going by the tribal guys in the trees, listen for one of them to say just as you're passing, "I love disco!" I don't think I can go TOO much into detail about what else we saw, but we did go backstage, see the SpectroMagic floats and some other floats, go in the Utilidoors (totally unlike anything I had pictured in my head!), and ride Haunted Mansion with our guide narrating instead. I really loved the tour, but be warned if you do go on it...it is a TON of walking and standing! By the end, I kept on squatting down and leaning back against a wall because I was so tired of walking.

I didn't really get any pictures on the tour, sadly, even when we were outside. This was the cute nametag:

This was the pin that they gave us during lunch at CHH. I love that it has the castle in the "head." Oh, and lunch at CHH was delicious -- my sandwich was SO good.

I should mention that MK was absolutely MOBBED this day. It was insane. We were supposed to meet up with MeMom's son, Trent, and his girlfriend later in the day when we went bak to MK for the nighttime EMH, but they ended up leaving before we got there because it was so bad. We're used to being there at crowded times, and it WAS pretty crazy, but we all agreed that it was even crazier when we went in 2008 during my mom and Kailyn's April vacation...which is actually this week.

I'm sorry for such a short update, but the next update will be a LOT better because it was our night at MK until 3 AM! We went back to the room after the tour to nap and just relax so we'd be all ready to stay the whole time. But here's a preview of that night:

Have a great Wednesday, guys!

 

[MeMom]

my dad IS the guy who purposely touches things he shouldn't, and he IS the one who would need such a warning.

Somehow, I am not having a hard time believing that he is the kind that would need to be warned!

 

[Tink9721]

The tour guide told my dad, and my dad only, not to play with the buttons, because she "knew guys." Of course my mom, Kailyn, and I found it hysterical because my dad IS the guy who purposely touches things he shouldn't, and he IS the one who would need such a warning.

Don't feel too bad, I haven't updated my TR in a while either. And I have absolutely no excuse since I've been on vacation all week I was planning on having a really productive vacation and cleaning my room and stuff like that. I've done absolutely nothing productive all week except the driving Oh well. I have the whole summer to be productive. I needed a week to just be lazy and do nothing. My Feb vacation was awesome but not relaxing I'm going to a Sox game with my dad on Sunday! I'm so glad they're playing well again! We didn't want to see one of those painful games like the ones from the past couple weeks!

By the way, I went driving in the parking lot with my mom for the first time today. She didn't panic at all! I thought she'd be a mess My dad's been so calm the whole time and so was my mom. I now understand why my dad wanted me to learn to drive in his pick-up truck. Once I can drive that thing, I'll be able to drive any car My mom's Ford Escape felt sooo easy to control after driving my dad's truck all week! I've been having problems backing up in my dad's truck because it's so long. Yesterday I was practicing backing out of a parking space and it's a good thing it was an empty lot because I would've taken out about 5 cars I practiced that in my mom's car today and did fine

 

[Charleston Princess]

Great update, Meghan!

Too cool that you get to go see Wicked in October!

The tour guide had your dad pegged from the very beginning, didn't she?

The tour sounds like so much fun! I can't wait to do it when Chelsea is 16 since Charles isn't champing at the bit to do it with me! I would love to see the Utilidors! Speaking of which, have you read the third Kingdom Keepers yet? I just finished it this week.

Your preview had me laughing out loud!

 

[jelloarms]

I just found this TR today. It is 11:06 p.m. here and I should have been 45 minutes ago but this TR was so engrossing.

Sorry Kate but this whole comment is directed at Megan.

On the first day, you mentioned that your shoes got soaked. I am curious as to how you dried them out?

I love how you mentioned the people at HM who try and convince the other people in their party the weren't crazy. My sister and i were those people. She saw it first but I didn't believe her.

Also, your dad is freaking awesome.

 

[DisKate]

I just found this TR today. It is 11:06 p.m. here and I should have been 45 minutes ago but this TR was so engrossing.

Sorry Kate but this whole comment is directed at Megan.

That's ok! Meghan has started her part, I haven't...so there isn't much to comment on for me

Thanks for joining!

 

[Megablocks]

Somehow, I am not having a hard time believing that he is the kind that would need to be warned!

Why ever not?

Don't feel too bad, I haven't updated my TR in a while either. And I have absolutely no excuse since I've been on vacation all week I was planning on having a really productive vacation and cleaning my room and stuff like that. I've done absolutely nothing productive all week except the driving Oh well. I have the whole summer to be productive. I needed a week to just be lazy and do nothing. My Feb vacation was awesome but not relaxing I'm going to a Sox game with my dad on Sunday! I'm so glad they're playing well again! We didn't want to see one of those painful games like the ones from the past couple weeks!

By the way, I went driving in the parking lot with my mom for the first time today. She didn't panic at all! I thought she'd be a mess My dad's been so calm the whole time and so was my mom. I now understand why my dad wanted me to learn to drive in his pick-up truck. Once I can drive that thing, I'll be able to drive any car My mom's Ford Escape felt sooo easy to control after driving my dad's truck all week! I've been having problems backing up in my dad's truck because it's so long. Yesterday I was practicing backing out of a parking space and it's a good thing it was an empty lot because I would've taken out about 5 cars I practiced that in my mom's car today and did fine

Do a real update soon!!! Like I said to you on yours, I can't wait to see your picture from the DIS meet in Boston even though it's probably identical. And of course I can't wait for the update about riding HM together and then the AK meet riding EE multiple times.

I learned how to drive in my mom's old minivan and it helped a lot -- I can drive anything now, but my problem is that I prefer bigger cars. I've driven my brother's little Civic and it was terrifying!

Great update, Meghan!

Too cool that you get to go see Wicked in October!

The tour guide had your dad pegged from the very beginning, didn't she?

The tour sounds like so much fun! I can't wait to do it when Chelsea is 16 since Charles isn't champing at the bit to do it with me! I would love to see the Utilidors! Speaking of which, have you read the third Kingdom Keepers yet? I just finished it this week.

Your preview had me laughing out loud!

Thanks Jackie! I am so excited for Wicked; I've already started obsessively watching the clips on YouTube!

She definitely had him pegged; I think he must have that "vibe." I did read the third -- I think I was nearly hyperventilating at the end because it totally hinted that there would be another book and I want it already!

I just found this TR today. It is 11:06 p.m. here and I should have been 45 minutes ago but this TR was so engrossing.

Sorry Kate but this whole comment is directed at Megan.

On the first day, you mentioned that your shoes got soaked. I am curious as to how you dried them out?

I love how you mentioned the people at HM who try and convince the other people in their party the weren't crazy. My sister and i were those people. She saw it first but I didn't believe her.

Also, your dad is freaking awesome.

Hi! Thank you for joining!

We all dried out our shoes by balling up pieces of newspaper (or brown paper bags when we ran out of newspaper), and stuffing it all in our shoes. It worked really well!

I love watching the people trying to convince others at HM that they're not crazy, the face on the tombstone DOES have eyes that open. It's one of the highlights of waiting in line for me

Thanks about my dad -- he is a lot of fun, even if he does try to embarrass us a lot sometimes. Thanks for joining!

 

[Megablocks]

That's ok! Meghan has started her part, I haven't...so there isn't much to comment on for me

Thanks for joining!

When are you going to start, missy? Or are you going to write about the May trip instead? I was concerned about not being able to drag my part out but I'm actually doing quite well with that

I can't believe you're going again in just 30 days! I am so jealous. I need to purchase your birthday/graduation gifts and get them to you before you leave

 

[Lovemy3babes]

The KTTK tour looks like a lot of fun! Great update and Happy Belated Birthday!!

 

[DisKate]

When are you going to start, missy? Or are you going to write about the May trip instead? I was concerned about not being able to drag my part out but I'm actually doing quite well with that

I can't believe you're going again in just 30 days! I am so jealous. I need to purchase your birthday/graduation gifts and get them to you before you leave

I'm going to do it! It just might come in the form of one massive picture report and then the May trip will be a relaxed trip report because I won't be going crazy with school. That's the only bad thing about spring break trips...you come home and everything hits you at once.

I still can't believe we're going in 30 days! And I really really really can't believe I graduate in 23! You don't need to send me anything girlie! Unless you're going to ship yourself like we previously discussed

 

[Charleston Princess]

I did read the third -- I think I was nearly hyperventilating at the end because it totally hinted that there would be another book and I want it already!

Yes, it definitely sounds like there will be more in the series! I read it, then, Connor took it, and now Chelsea is reading it. Loved the Crash Test Dummies on the Segways!

 

[Megablocks]

The KTTK tour looks like a lot of fun! Great update and Happy Belated Birthday!!

It was a lot of fun! And thanks Kelli!

I'm going to do it! It just might come in the form of one massive picture report and then the May trip will be a relaxed trip report because I won't be going crazy with school. That's the only bad thing about spring break trips...you come home and everything hits you at once.

I still can't believe we're going in 30 days! And I really really really can't believe I graduate in 23! You don't need to send me anything girlie! Unless you're going to ship yourself like we previously discussed

Ummmm you sent me a huge box of awesome stuff...remember? Aside from that you're one of my bestest friends in the world! I can't not get you something!

Remembering our conversation about shipping myself had me cracking up I'd love to ship myself to you and sit outside your apartment waiting for you and killing time by talking to Ty through the door

Yes, it definitely sounds like there will be more in the series! I read it, then, Connor took it, and now Chelsea is reading it. Loved the Crash Test Dummies on the Segways!

I loved that part, too! My brother used to LOVE crash dummies when he was younger -- he had all sorts of crash dummy toys and even a big stuffed one that had velcroed limbs you could take off and put back on, so I love TT and the dummies because they were a small part of my childhood

 

[DisKate]

Ummmm you sent me a huge box of awesome stuff...remember? Aside from that you're one of my bestest friends in the world! I can't not get you something!

Remembering our conversation about shipping myself had me cracking up I'd love to ship myself to you and sit outside your apartment waiting for you and killing time by talking to Ty through the door

He was doing that again last night! We got home from going out to dinner with some friends and Patrick couldn't remember which key opened the door so he was going through all of them and Ty could hear us and he wanted his dinner, so he was sitting on the other side of the door "talking" as loudly as he could!

 

[Megablocks]

Day 3, part 2 -- Sunday, February 14

This was probably THE best night of the trip for me. MK was going to be open until 3 AM, and we were all determined to stay the whole time. I love MK, especially at night. There's just something amazing to me about being able to walk around there with everything lit up and hearing all the piped in music.

I was really, really hoping we would make it in time for Wishes, but no such luck. I think it was happening as our bus was entering the park. Oh, well, we still had plenty of time to see it!

We rode PotC first, since that is a family favorite. This looked awesome at night!

We got stuck here, so I snapped a picture.

I think we also got stuck or were moving really slowly past Jack Sparrow in the chair with the jewels, too. I remember my mom and I saying we wouldn't mind getting stuck there.

I can't remember what my dad and Kailyn did, but my mom and I really, really wanted to watch SpectroMagic. It's our very favorite Disney parade and even though I had seen it by myself the night before, I wanted to see it again. We staked out a wall to sit on up in Frontierland, right near Splash Mountain. It was very, very strange to not hear the screams and splashing coming from there on this trip. My mom and I watched Spectro and she hoped that none of the characters would pay her any attention, because last year, the wolf came and stood over her, which was hilarious to Kailyn and I, but not so much to our mom.

We met back up with my dad and Kailyn, and I also met up with an old friend of mine. I always have to get a picture with this guy. Always. He is my Bo.

We rode Haunted Mansion next, and there is no doubt in my mind that it was incredibly amusing. After that, we headed over to Fantasyland, since we hadn't really taken the time to do a lot in that area for a long time. I wanted to ride the carousel. Yup, I'm the one who asked if we could please ride the carousel. You guys already saw this gem:

When we got off the carousel, we saw Goofy! He is my very favorite character so I, again, was the one saying, "it's Goofy! Can we pleasepleaseplease go see Goofy?!"

A different view of the castle and an un-crowded Fantasyland...

We headed over here because this is just one of those rides you HAVE to ride.

I wanted to ride this, but after reading Kingdom Keepers, I was freaked out. I don't like dolls very much to begin with -- it's just another one of my weird fears. I COULD deal with the dolls on IASW, but this was pre-KK reading. I just could not look at it the same. I sat in the boat hunched forward, with my elbows on my legs, looking around at everything with new (very suspicious) eyes. When we passed the dolls that are in the flowers bobbing and up and down, my first thought was, "they are going to jump out." Ridiculous, yes. Funny, yes. :rofl:

After being traumatized by the fact that I can no longer look at IASW the same ever again, we headed over here. Only 20 minute wait!!

I remember waiting in line and texting Katie. This stands out in my mind because it was one of those times that I started cracking up and probably looking crazy because I was the only one in my party laughing. It's also not super entertaining if you haven't read KK. I said something about how IASW freaked me out and I had been afraid of getting attacked, and she texted me back with, "did you smile?" Seriously, IASW is scary after having read KK!

We hadn't been on this ride in forever, and it was SO cute! I really forgot how cute it was. One of the CM's who was working the ride gave Kailyn and I a big smile and moved her fingers over the bar like she was sprinkling pixie dust right when it was supposed to go down. It was so cute and just one of those many little things that make Disney, Disney.

My pictures show that we rode BTMRR next, but there's no pictures from that. After that, we took a bathroom break in the restrooms near Splash Mountain. It was really, really eerie. It was so dark, and so quiet with no one coming off the ride.

A sad sight. It was cold when we were there, but honestly, I would still have gone on. I'm a hardy New Englander.

Continued in next post...

 

[Megablocks]

Continued from previous post!

We meandered from Frontierland over to the castle, and into Tomorrowland, stopping for pictures along the way.

I could stand there all night...

We headed to Tomorrowland, where I may have purchased a cream cheese pretzel and my picky sister might have actually LIKED it. My dad, Kailyn and I decided to ride Astro Orbiter. I loved the view of the park from up so high, but I was a little scared. Okay, a lot scared. Next time, I think I might go on alone -- it was a tight squeeze even though my sister is a little bit on the short side.

After riding that, we started to slowly head out.

I zoomed in on the castle clock to prove that we WERE there until 3 AM! I was so excited that we did it. It was amazing, and being able to say, "why, yes, I WAS in Magic Kingdom until 3 AM once!", is pretty awesome.

Looking at the castle behind me...

And at Main Street in front of me.

Seeing Main Street empty, or nearly empty, and hearing the music, is amazing at any time, but it was really amazing at this time.

I also wanted to say that I have been awful at keeping up with my subscriptions and other reports -- the end of the semester is even more ridiculous than I expected and I've been so crazy and so hectic. However, I am planning on catching up really, really soon, since I finished the project that's due next week, and instead of being done the week after next, my professor changed the project/presentation dates to doing both (group and individual projects and presentations) on the 10th, instead of doing one on the 10th and one on the 17th. So, I'm actually going to be done NEXT week!

Up next -- Mommy and Meg time at Epcot!

 

[Charleston Princess]

What a great night at the Magic Kingdom! I would never have lasted until three am!!!

Had to laugh about your IASW experience -- you are so right -- after reading Kingdom Keepers, you just cannot look at those dolls the same way!

Just being on the platform of AstroOrbiter scares me, so needless to say, I have never actually gotten into one of the rockets.

How cool to have Main Street so empty!!! You practically had the park to yourselves as you left!

 

[MeMom]

What a fun night! I am so glad you are having time to be back on the boards.

I imagine the Splash Mountain bathroom area was kind of spooky in the dark with no people.

When is your next trip? Can't have the glasses sitting in storage too long, you know!

 

[Tink9721]

We rode Haunted Mansion next, and there is no doubt in my mind that it was incredibly amusing.

A sad sight. It was cold when we were there, but honestly, I would still have gone on. I'm a hardy New Englander.

I was soooo sad that it was closed. I definitely would've gone on. I'm a hardy New Englander too It's almost better when it's cold since it's pretty much a walk-on and you can go over and over!

I looooove this picture

It was amazing, and being able to say, "why, yes, I WAS in Magic Kingdom until 3 AM once!", is pretty awesome.

I wish I could do that, but my mom would never make it that late Some day, when I'm old enough to stay at MK that late by myself without giving her a heart attack, I'll do it

 

[Megablocks]

What a great night at the Magic Kingdom! I would never have lasted until three am!!!

Had to laugh about your IASW experience -- you are so right -- after reading Kingdom Keepers, you just cannot look at those dolls the same way!

Just being on the platform of AstroOrbiter scares me, so needless to say, I have never actually gotten into one of the rockets.

How cool to have Main Street so empty!!! You practically had the park to yourselves as you left!

I was amazed that we did! I think napping for a few hours in the room helped a lot and I was so happy we made it.

Like I said, I already have a weird thing with dolls, so I was NOT happy that the dolls in my happy place now freak me out!

Main Street being so empty was SO nice. I forgot to mention that we also stopped in the Emporium on the way out -- we basically just walked through instead of staying on Main Street -- and THAT was nearly empty. It was great!

What a fun night! I am so glad you are having time to be back on the boards.

I imagine the Splash Mountain bathroom area was kind of spooky in the dark with no people.

When is your next trip? Can't have the glasses sitting in storage too long, you know!

Thanks, MeMom! Me, too. I'm so glad to be coming up on the last day of class!

It was very spooky; I wanted to walk down a little further, but I didn't want to miss or lose my family, and I wanted to take pictures because I didn't think anyone would believe me when I said that I was the only one waiting in the whole area!

I don't actually know when our next trip will be My parents are going to Scotland for their 30th anniversary next summer, but Katie's already told me that when she and Patrick move to Florida, I'll have to come visit them and we can do Disney together

I was soooo sad that it was closed. I definitely would've gone on. I'm a hardy New Englander too It's almost better when it's cold since it's pretty much a walk-on and you can go over and over!



I looooove this picture



I wish I could do that, but my mom would never make it that late Some day, when I'm old enough to stay at MK that late by myself without giving her a heart attack, I'll do it

You've ridden HM with us so you know it was probably entertaining

I love having it be cold and Splash Mountain a walk-on, especially when the CM's working the ride are bundled up and looking at us like we're insane If we end up in Disney at the same time again, I hope our trips overlap again so maybe we can explore a park late at night!